The GBC C800pro plastic comb binding machine
has been around for years. It used to be called the Ibico EPK21 and at
one point was actually orange.Still, everyone knows that just because a machine has
been around for a long time it doesn’t mean that it is high quality.
This review will take a quick look at the features, strengths and
weaknesses of the GBC CombBind C800 pro binding machine.
The GBC C800pro plastic comb binding machine
has been around for years. It used to be called the Ibico EPK21 and at
one point was actually orange. The color has changed but the machine
really hasn’t. Still, everyone knows that just because a machine has
been around for a long time it doesn’t mean that it is high quality.
This review will take a quick look at the features, strengths and
weaknesses of the GBC CombBind C800 pro binding machine. Take a look
for yourself and evaluate whether this machine is right for you.
One of the most important features to note when looking at the C800pro
is its heavy duty electric punch. The punching mechanism uses a foot
pedal activator that is included with the machine. The foot pedal
allows you to hold your document with both hands during the punching
process. This means that you are able to ensure that the pages are
flush and square with every cycle helping to eliminate costly
mispunches. The foot pedal and electric motor also greatly increase
punching efficiency and reduce the risk for repetitive motion injuries.
The specs on the C800 Pro say that it can punch up to 25 sheets of 25
pound paper. However, in my experience most users are going to want to
punch 20 or less. If you try to consistently punch the maximum number
of sheets you will more than likely find that you will end up
overloading your machine at times and have a difficult time fitting
pages into the punching slot. However, this is true of any electric
comb binding machine.
Unlike some of the other smaller GBC electric comb binding machines,
the C800 pro also includes a depth of punch margin control and 21 fully
disengageable die pins. These features allow the C800pro to be used for
binding very thin books with combs as small as 3/16″ or very thick
books with oval shaped combs up to 2″ in diameter. They also enable
this machine to bind documents that are longer than 11″ in length.
However, binding longer documents with the C800pro will require a two
step punching process and may require inserting some of the comb rings
by hand. This does not make this machine an ideal solution for
organizations that do a lot of legal sized binding.
Possible Weaknesses:
Although the C800pro is one of the best electric machines in its class
there are a few things that are worth noting about the machine. First
and foremost is the cost of the replacement motor. Unfortunately, the
replacement motor costs as much to replace in the C800pro as an entire
new machine. This is not usually a problem until the machine has been
in service for a number of years. However, if the motor does burn out
you can expect to buy a new binding machine. With this in mind, you
will want to be careful when punching clear covers on the C800. No more
than two plastic covers should ever be punched at a time on a machine
like this. Punching more than two clear covers can ruin your motor or
dull your punching dies.
The C800pro is designed for letter size, A4 size and half letter
(landscape) documents. For users who primarily use these sizes of paper
this is a great machine. However, it is not ideal for punching or
binding legal or 11″ x 17″ documents. Several machines in the same
class as the C800 are designed for legal punching and binding and might
be better choices. However, these machines will still be difficult to
use with 11″ x 17″ paper.
The GBC C800pro is extremely well built and most users can use it for
more than a decade without ever having a problem. All of the important
components on the machine are made of high quality steel including the
punching mechanism, comb opener, punching pins, handle and case. The
foot pedal is strong and sturdy and the chad tray is oversized to
accommodate a large number of punching chips. It is also worth noting
that the machine is fairly compact and takes up less space than other
similar pieces of equipment.
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